FORMER Olympian Mark Anthony Barriga is officially out of Omega Pro Sports International’s (OPSI) second “Bubble” boxing show on Dec. 18, 2020 at the IPI Compound in Mandaue City.
“Barriga is out of Dec. 18 due to health concerns,” OPSI vice president Jerome Calatrava told SunStar Cebu.
Calatrava said that Barriga’s health concern isn’t Covid-19-related and that he was very eager to fight.
The 27-year-old Barriga was supposed to be featured in the first part of the two-part boxing show in a fight against Ricky delos Santos. Barriga, who competed in the 2012 London Olympics, hasn’t fought for close to three years since losing to Carlos Licona by split decision in an International Boxing Federation (IBF) minimumweight title fight in Los Angeles in 2018.
Calatrava said that they are finalizing the fight card and that Barriga’s slot will be replaced by a different fight.
Albert Pagara (32-1, 23 KOs) headlines the first part of the event against veteran Virgil Puton (18-14-2, 9 KOs).
Regie Suganob (4-0, 1 KO) faces Robert Ates (4-7, 2 KOs), while Mark Magsayo’s cousin Benny Cañete makes his pro debut against a yet-to-be-determined opponent.
The second part of the show features the Omega Boys.
Pete Apolinar (12-1, 8 KOs) headlines the second part of the show against Danny Tamipi (9-11-2, 5 KOs).
In the undercard, IBF No. 9 light flyweight Christian Araneta (18-1, 14 KOs) slugs it out with Roland Jay Biendima (15-6-1, 8 KOs), World Boxing Council (WBC) No. 10 light flyweight Mark Vicelles (12-0-1, 6 KOs) takes on a yet-to-be-determined foe, Tomjune Mangubat (11-2-1, 9 KOs) trades blows with Reymond Empic (7-5, 3 KOs) and unbeaten prospect Carlo Bacaro (6-0, 5 KOs) is fighting Ryan Maano (5-9-2, 1 KO).
The first part of the show kicks off at 1 p.m., while the second part starts at 7 p.m. (EKA)